Juventus defender is smart for using hip-hop to tackle racism

Juventus defender, Patrice Evra just shared a cool video on his Instagram that shows how smart he is.

Evra shared a video of him dancing in a Panda costume to ‘Panda’ a record by American hip-hop sensation Desiigner.

The left-back dances for a while before taking the costume off his face to say in the camera: “Be like a panda. I am black, I am white, I am Asian and I am chubby.

“I am full of love. I love this game. Say no to racism.”

He laughs as he puts the panda costume head back on to continue dancing.

Evra makes a move from the usual and repetitive form which footballers use to deliver anti-racism messages. They stare into a camera and just say the words, no to racism’.

No disrespect to these footballers-any form of the message against racism should not be disrespected- but this normal way of sending the messages can be boring and tiresome to watch.

As a Manchester United player in 2011, he was called ‘negrito’ (little black) by then Liverpool striker Luis Suarez. Although he denied the allegations, Suarez was given an eight-game suspension and a £40,000 fine.

Being also one of the most popular black footballers in world football, the racism subject drives very close to the kernel of Evra's heart.

Hence the initiative to deliver this very important message in a unique way. Using hip-hop, the most popular genre of pop culture to fight racism is a clever move.

Hip-hop as a genre has grown profoundly. The raw, hard hitting beat driven songs with the most craggy lyrics that started at the corner of South Bronx in New York City has grown to become a party anthem all over the world.

Go to a Drake, ASAP Rocky, Meek Mill concert and you will see youths and people in general from all race having fun; white, Asian, black, Mexican it doesn't matter, hip-hop brings everyone together.

Like Jay-Z once said; “I truly believe that racism is taught when you’re young – so it’s very difficult to teach racism when your kid looks up to .”

So using the ‘Panda’ song which is possibly the most popular hip-hop song of 2016 is a brilliant move.

Fusing hip-hop with the anti-racism message is important and Evra is smart for doing that.